The Everly Brothers -- Phil, left, and Don -- captured in a 1960 file photo, are the 2014 Music Masters honorees by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They and their music will be celebrated with a week of activities beginning on Oct. 20 and culminating with a Playhouse Square concert on Saturday, Oct. 25. Don Everly is schedule to attend. His younger brother, Phil, died in January of this year at the age of 74.
(Associated Press File Photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Don and Phil, the Everly Brothers, were known for their airtight harmonies over the course of their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career. So it's only fitting that some of the best harmonizers in the business will come together to celebrate the duo as the 2014 Music Masters honorees.

Country crooner Rodney Crowell will serve as music director for the Saturday, Oct. 25, concert that culminates a week of activities honoring Don and Phil, who died last January.

Even Albert Lee, who was responsible for and served as music director at the 1983 reunion concert that put the Everlys back on the musical map, will be on hand to play in the house band.

"Every year for the Annual Music Masters, we look for a range of artists to represent the honoree: artists who worked with them directly, artists who were influenced by the honoree, and artists who we think bring something exciting and fresh to the show," said the Rock Hall's Lauren Onkey, vice president of education and public programs on why those particular artists were asked to participate in the show.

Don Everly will be at the State Theatre in Playhouse Square that night to accept the recognition. It will be one of his first public appearances since his brother's death in Burbank, California.

"I'm honored and proud as I know Phil would be for the recognition being given to the Everly Brothers," said Don Everly in a statement released by the Rock Hall.

"I'd like to thank the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and fans for keeping the Everly Brothers alive and accept with great appreciation this special celebration. I wish Phil were here to share this honor with me. It has cost many tears and taken many miles and several decades to arrive at this point," Everly said in the statement.

The show is set for 7:30 p.m. at Playhouse Square's State Theatre. Tickets, $30 to $100, become available to Rock Hall members at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, and to the public at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at the Playhouse Square box office, online at playhousesquare.org or by phone at 216-241-6000.

Rolling Stone has labeled the group one of the most important in rock 'n' roll history because of the influence their vocals had on such groups as the Beatles, the Beach Boys and others.

Decades after they first hit the airwaves with such songs as "Bye Bye Love,'' "Wake Up Little Susie'' and iconic "All I Have to Do Is Dream,'' the brothers' harmonies are still influencing artists.

"The Everly Brothers made some of the most inventive and influential music of the first rock and roll era,'' Onkey said in an emailed statement on why the Rock Hall chose to honor the Everlys this year.

"They mixed the close harmonies of country music with the propulsive rhythms of rock in songs that were beautifully crafted. They had a huge influence across the history of the music, from the British Invasion to California rock to the great country-rock hybrids coming out of Nashville today.

"It's a great chance to explore one of the richest catalogues in rock and roll,'' she said.

The Everlys – with Phil's higher register over Don's lower one – had 35 top 100 songs in their long and storied career. Beginning with their self-titled "The Everly Brothers'' in 1958, the brothers produced 21 studio albums that yielded 11 No. 1 songs.

They were inducted into the Rock Hall in 1986 and into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

As part of the weeklong series, the Rock Hall will hold a free session called "Songwriters to Soundmen'' with Crowell and special guests at the Rock Hall's Foster Theatre at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Ann Powers, one of the nation's best-known and most respected pop music critics, will deliver a keynote lecture on the Everlys at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at Case Western Reserve University's Iris and Bert Wolstein Research Building, 2013 Cornell Road. This event is also free.

The day of the show – Saturday, Oct. 25 – the Rock Hall will host the annual Music Masters Conference from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Foster Theatre.

Other events during the week – interviews, panels, films and educational programs – will be announced later.

The Music Masters Series – a joint production of the Rock Hall and CWRU – began in 1996 with a 10-day celebration honoring Woody Guthrie.

"Each year, the series explores the legacy of one of those pioneering figures in a range of events that includes museum exhibits, lectures, films, a major conference and a tribute concert benefiting the Rock Hall's education department.

"Drawing together music experts, artists, fans and friends, these events aim to provide new perspectives on some of the most beloved and influential musicians of the past century.''

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